History is being made here in Panama, and I feel fortunate to be part of it - Eli Izhakoff

Eli Izhakoff, Chairman, World Jewelry Hub, Panama and Founding Chairman, Panama Diamond Exchange is also an Honorary Lifetime President of a host of Global organisations like World Federation of Diamond Bourses, World Diamond Council, CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, Diamond Dealers Club of NY,Diamond Industry Steering Committee and Bangkok Diamond and Precious Stones Exchange. Here, Eli Izhakoff talks to Rough&Polished about the issues being faced by the global diamond industry currently; and about the WJH, he is more than confident by proclaiming “History is being made here in Panama.”

DTZ-OZGEO discovered a diamond field in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe in 2010 where it is currently mining diamonds. After the superficial weathered rock was mined and processed, the company’s operation is now focused on the diamond-bearing conglomerate being developed by way of drilling and blasting. Bornwell Mupaya, Deputy Managing Director of DTZ-OZGEO is narrating about his company’s achievements during two decades of its existence in his interview to Rough & Polished.

As the demand for polished diamonds is not picking up, the rough supply situation is comfortable in India - Vipul Shah

Vipul Shah, is the CEO & MD of Asian Star Co. Ltd., a market leader in the Indian gem and jewellery industry. The present gloomy scenario in the global diamond industry is a worrisome factor on everybody’s mind. Not surprising that the Indian Industry is hard hit as well, with multiple challenges to tackle. However, the Indian diamond industry, which is known for its resilience has weathered many a storm in the past. But, how is it planning to survive this onslaught, which is bigger than anything it has faced till now? Vipul Shah answers ROUGH&POLISHED here, with great élan.

Lesotho’s proposed ownership law to affect diamond firms

02.08.2012

Lesotho is set to introduce a new law that will limit foreign mining firms’ ownership in local mines to 49 percent, while the remaining 51 percent will be reserved for natives (government included).
Diamond companies to be affected by this proposed law included Gem Diamonds, which owns 70 percent of the Letseng mine, and Namakwa Diamonds, which owns the majority of the Kao mine.
Gem’s flagship Letseng diamond mine had produced 57,116 carats during the first six months of the year ended June 2012.
It said the mine also achieved an average value of $2‚133 per carat during the first half of the year compared with $3‚052 realised a year earlier.
Namakwa on the other hand realised revenues of about $4.2 million from its third sale of Kao rough diamonds in Antwerp, with achieved prices 3.4 percent higher than initial management estimates.
However, with all the positive news coming from the diamond miners in Lesotho, the country’s new Prime Minister Tom Thabane said the gems were not being mined successfully in a manner that benefits the country, hence the move to review the ownership structure.
"We also have lots of diamonds, but are not doing so well," he said.
Thabane said that the proposed law would not affect the non-mining sector as was the case in Zimbabwe under its controversial indigenisation law.
“The localisation issues mentioned are in the mining sector — other sectors are not affected,” he was quoted by Businessday as saying.
"But it is still a debate. At the moment we do not think we will follow the status quo.”

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished